Chelsea Officials Welcome Back CPS Staff and Teachers

The annual convocation ceremony for the Chelsea Public School (CPS) teachers and staff was held on Monday.  The ceremony was held virtually this year.  The CPS staff heard welcoming remarks from City Manager Thomas Ambrosino and Superintendent Dr. Almi G. Abeyta as well as from School Committee Chair Kelly Garcia-Mirza, Kathryn Anderson, President of the Chelsea Teachers’ Union  and Natalie Restrepo who is a Civic Engagement Organizer at La Colaborativa of Chelsea who told of her educational experiences in the local schools.

Chelsea Teacher Peter Pappavaselio was presented with the Butterfly Award.  The award is presented to one teacher each year who is selected by the teachers and staff of the school system for their work with the Chelsea students.  Christine Lee, Director of Human Resources at CPS presented the award to the Pappavaselio who has worked in the system for more than a decade.

Dr. Abetya remarks are as follow:

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome Back!  We have missed you!

 As I was thinking about what to say in this convocation speech, I thought about all that we have been through since March 2020.  We have been through so much together, from the initial jump into remote learning to welcoming our students back to in-person learning a year later in March 2021.  

I want to thank all of you for your work during this time.  I know it has not been easy.   Thank you to our operational staff for working daily during this pandemic and keeping the district running.  And, thank you to our teaching and learning staff for continuing to provide instruction to our students.  This past June we graduated 301 students from Chelsea High School and our students earned over 4.5 Million in scholarships.  We have so much to be proud of in Chelsea!

We are living in unprecedented times!  And, we have risen to the occasion and have supported our students and one another like family because in Chelsea Public Schools, we are family! 

We lift our students up despite the mountains that have threatened to block us from our mission.  We made a commitment to our students and families to continue to educate and welcome all, even in a pandemic!  May we continue to support our students and families during this time, and may we remember why we got into education in the first place.  

I am reminded of my why because it is what keeps me going through those days when the obstacles may seem insurmountable.  By the time I was in second grade I had already lived in two different countries and attended two grade schools.  Thus, I had gaps in my education.  I can remember being in the Blue Bird reading group; that was synonymous for the low reading group.  You may as well have called us the turtles.  My second-grade teacher told my mother after the first nine weeks that, “Almi likes to finish her work quickly so she can play.  She’s not reading on grade level and will probably grow up to be a C student.” What this teacher did not know is that my mother was not about to have anyone label her child or put her child in box; my mom was a teacher and worked with me.  By the end of the year, I had caught up in every area.  My mom has always believed in me and been my biggest encourager; she saw a doctor of education in me before I did! 

Many of our students in Chelsea are school dependent; thus, we need to step in and be the adult that believes and connects with them. In Chelsea Public Schools we will know our students by name, strength and story.

Now, I’m fast forwarding to my principal days.  It was 2004, and I was in my first year of the principalship. When you’re a principal, you meet the students who get sent to the office and you get to build relationships and know their stories.  The first student I met was a student by the name of Natalia in the 5th grade.  Natalia would come to my office with the biggest attitude. But, I always enjoyed my time talking with Natalia.  And, when she would leave my office, I would remind her that she’s special and a leader.  When she was in 8th grade, her mother would call me and say, “Ms. Abeyta, can you please talk to Natalia.  She’s not listening to me, and I worry for her.  She listens to you.”  After graduating from 8th grade, I didn’t see Natalia until about three years later in 2010 at the Maverick T station.  I heard a, “Ms. Ms.”  I turned around and saw Natalia.  “Ms., I’m getting my act together.  I just had a baby girl, and I’m getting my GED. Thank you for always believing in me.” 

Then, just this past June, at the City’s first Juneteenth celebration at Chelsea Square, I stopped at the La Colabortiva table and guess who is working at the table?  Yes, Natalia!  And, of course, she’s doing well and a mother of two children.  Her youngest child will be attending the ELC this year. I feel like a proud grandmother! 

We are family!  What we do impacts generations.  May we know our students by name, strength and story and help them climb mountains!

I hope you have a wonderful school year and wish you the very best! 

Town Manager Tom Ambrosino’s remarks are as follow:

On behalf of the City, I want to welcome all of you back to the Chelsea Public Schools for the 2021-2022 academic year. 

I know that at the conclusion of school in June, we were all optimistic that this school year would bring a full return to normal operations.  Unfortunately, that is not the case – and it seems we all have to adjust to the new reality of living with COVID in our midst. 

But even though COVID continues to occupy our time and attention, and different operational changes may be needed throughout the school year, I know that it will never detract at all from your commitment to our children.  Your dedication is evident to me each time that I engage with the School Dept.

Of course, I need not remind any of you that this coming year will be unique in one particular aspect:  you will be seeing this year a fair number of children who haven’t been in a classroom for almost 18 months.  And, given the incredible toll COVID has taken in this community, some of these children will have likely suffered from some real trauma.  They will need an all of your support, patience and love. 

But, I know you are all up to that task.  None of you would be in this particular School District unless you had a passion for helping the most vulnerable.  I know that you will do your best to comfort our returning students, make them feel safe, and give them the best educational environment possible. 

The City is fully behind you in this endeavor, and wishes you the very best for making this a safe, healthy and productive school year.

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